The Fated Match

Six

Days later I concentrated on training everyone making sure they are back on track. I didn’t have to push as hard as I thought since they were trying to prove themselves to me anyway. Going as far as showing off.

When Ryan invited me, Tina and Michelle, to his house for dinner I was glad that I would be able to have a break from swimming. Which was something I rarely said. It was more a break from coaching.

Ryan and Tina had been becoming closer and I found it funny at how different she was when he was around.

Ryan opened the door to us when we arrived. He had a towel over his shoulder and was wearing jeans and a crisp white dress shirt.

I’m not used to seeing him without a suit, but I like this. He looks younger almost.

“just on time ladies, come in,” he said moving to the side and letting us in. I dragged Michelle with me so that Tina would be the last one through the door.

I can just sense her staring daggers to the back of my head.

“what are the bets then” I heard Theo say from the kitchen. I hadn’t known he was coming but I did have a feeling because of his and Ryan’s close friendship.

I’ve seen Theo occasionally over the last few days mainly with the football team. The coach wanted him to watch the players and give advice where he saw fit.

“the bets on them banging by the end of the week?” Michelle said brushing past me to get to the kitchen where we could smell the delicious food.

He smirks slightly watching her pass. “very fucking likely” I commented following them inside the kitchen.

“Dillan, I didn’t know you were joining us” Michelle cooed as she ran over to the little guy sat in his high seat munching on some snacks.

He was dressed in this adorable jumpsuit with a beanie covering his tiny head, he looked extremely adorable.

When I walked through the door Dillan locked eyes with me and clapped wildly. He seems to do that a lot around me.

Oh yeah, this kid loves me.

“last minute change, but your more than welcome here buddy,” Ryan said walking inside with Tina behind him.

Theo walked over to his boy and placed his phone in front of him. Dillan immediately started playing games, keeping himself busy. Kids these days were easily entertained.

Ryan had made a lasagne for us. I was instantly salivating over it since this is hands down one of my favourite foods.

I never have the patience to cook it, I normally just buy it already made and then just shove it in the oven.

“this is good,” I said as we all started to eat. Ryan thanked me but he looked over at Tina.

Good to know that my approval wasn’t the one he actually cared about.

“Yeah really good,” she said smiling as she noticed that he was waiting for her to say something.

I heard Theo faintly chuckle at the two.

They were like teenagers with crazy crushes on each other.

The dinner wasn’t as awkward like I expected. Thanks to Dillan and his weird faces and words he would blurt out he kept it very interesting.

“you should have heard her the other day. Man, she’s one tough coach” Tina said. We were now talking about the students. Everyone here worked at the academy expect from Theo obviously but he was familiar with the running of the place.

I’m sure his restaurant keeps him busy.

I cringe.

“It won’t happen again. I gave them a warning but if they are taking this seriously, they can find another coach” I said shrugging my shoulders. I love coaching and everything, but I can’t be investing my time and effort into them if they aren’t 100% into it.

Ryan smiled over at me. “that’s exactly why I hired you. These kids are privileged, and they take advantage of it” glad to know someone agrees with me.

Part of me had thought that I was being too harsh.

“how’s your leg” Michelle diverts the conversation to Theo as he fed Dillan with his food. He cleaned the sides of Dillan’s mouth before turning to Michelle.

I watched how they looked at each other. Michelle definitely was showing her interest in him.

Does Theo feel the same?

Why does that annoy me. Maybe because you find him sexy as fuck too Elle.

“healing, I went to the doctors for some more pain meds but that’s about it,” he told her. I don’t think he enjoyed talking about it too much.

I never actually found out what actually happened in there. The police stopped bothering me after dad threatened them. Although he isn’t my father by blood, he is considered my father. I had turned 19 when I asked him to be my legal guardian.

He had been a friend of my mother’s since I was very little and helped a lot with the family. He was the one to book me a ticket to japan.

After we had finished dinner, we all went into the lounge to have some wine and just have a long chat. I sat crossed legged on the sofa with Dillan playing with my jumper.

“he’s a little obsessed” Ryan commented finally looking at someone else other than Michelle who sat next to him. It was basically the love seat.

They are so obvious.

“who wouldn’t be” I winked at him.

He stared at me, he still wasn’t used to my bluntness. Theo was grabbing a bag from his car when I had started to figure out that this guy needed to nap. He was rolling his head around everywhere.

“there’s a room upstairs you can put him in,” Ryan said taking me upstairs so we could place him down.

I looked towards the door and could see the outline of Theo. He had his hand pressed his ear though, so I assumed he was on the phone with someone.

I went upstairs anyway and placed Dillan down.

He rolled around a little bit before opening his mouth and letting a yawn loose.

“I’ll go tell Theo,” Ryan said before leaving me in the room with the little guy. I grabbed a little blanket and covered him.

I tried my best to get him to settle down, but he wasn’t feeling it.

I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and opened up YouTube. I found a random children video that claimed to get babies to sleep.

I hoped this wasn’t click bait.

I watched over him as he watched the video, it was getting warm in here, so I proceeded to remove my hoodie leaving me in my jeans and vest top.

I was relieved to see his eyes slowly begin to close.

“That’s the fastest I’ve seen him fall asleep” Theo commented from the door.

He obviously had just watched me, and Dillan have a little moment. He really is precious.

“you obviously weren’t here for the 15 minutes when he wouldn’t stay still,” I said leaning away and grabbing my phone from his tiny fingers.

He shuffled slightly but thank god he didn’t wake up again.

“oh, I was” he replied with a grin.

Theo walked forwards placing a pillow underneath his head. I left them to have a father and son moment as I went to wash my hands in the sink.

Dillon had dribbled slightly on my hand when I was carrying him upstairs.

I had my head bowed as I washed my hands when suddenly I felt warm fingers tracing over it.

My tattoo.

“chikara” he whispered, his lips close to my ear.

I tried to turn around, but he held me in place stopping me from moving.

I completely stilled when the name left his lips. “Hiroki”

My heartbeat accelerated.

“how do you know that name” I stared at him through the mirror. He finally looked away from my tattoo and met my eyes in the reflection.

This was eating me inside I had to find out.

“how the hell do you know my grandfather’s name Theo,” I said using my strength to turn so I could really look into his eyes and get an honest answer.

He winced slightly. I realised I was raising my voice and I had just worked so hard to get Dillan to finally fall asleep.

His fingers were still playing with the black ink on my neck.

“He was my dad’s god father Elle, I have the same tattoo,” he said turning around lifting his shirt up and leaving me to stare at his back in awe.

It wasn’t just one tattoo.

He had several Japanese symbols covering his back I had no idea, I didn’t see them in the pool the other week.

“did you ever meet him,” I asked him.

He shook his head. I was as confused as anyone, this is truly insane.

My grandfather cared for many people in his life and he was asked many times to be godfather for many children. Never did I think I would meet the son of one of the children my grandfather cared for like that.

“I wish I could’ve met him, but he died before I got the chance” he explained to me finally putting his shirt back on.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

His back was like a piece of art I was itching to trace my fingers all over it, but I couldn’t clearly.

“is your father still alive,” I asked him as we exited the bathroom and headed back to the room relieved to see Dillon still sleeping.

He was rolled onto his stomach though.

“yes, he lives in japan with my mom” he tells me. They are in japan. Hell, if I was them, I wouldn’t want to leave either.

It truly is a beautiful place to live especially when you’re older and retired.

We sat in silence, I think we were both kind of registering this new information. I knew it couldn’t have been just as simple as having the same tattoo.

I had cousins who had the same tattoo given from my grandfather himself.

“is that your only tattoo” he suddenly asks. I had to think about it for a second.

I actually do have another one.

I pushed up the sleeve to my arm and showed him the ink on the side of my wrist. He grabbed my hand pulling me closer so that he could get a closer look.

I watched his eyes take in the beautiful elephant on my arm. I was 18 when I asked him for one more tattoo. He was getting old and weak I wanted to have one more from him.

He was the one to name me Elle after his love for elephants.

“for Elle” he whispered. I shivered when I felt his breaths breeze over it.

“he named me after his love for elephants. My father wanted to honour his choice” I told him to which he smiled. Those were the days when dad was happy.

When we didn’t have problems, when he loved his family.

I hadn’t realised how close we were until we both heard Michelle’s voice from outside. I immediately shuffled back.

Michelle poked her head inside. “you guys have been up here for a while” she comments her eyes on Theo, not once did she look at me.

Fair play.

“I’ll see you later,” I said grabbing my hoodie and leaving the room to head downstairs.

I rushed over to Ryan but stopped immediately when I found them in the kitchen. Ryan had Tina against the counter, they were kissing.

I decided to leave a note on the counter outside. I needed to get some space from everything tonight.

It became so real.

I walked down the street and got on a bus that would hopefully take me to my house.

I traced over my wrist tattoo as I let the bus take me through the streets towards the other side of town.

What are the odds.